Creative Lettering Using Opaque Writers
The Zig Memory System Opaque Writers, by EK Success, make creative lettering fun and easy. Available in three different tips and twenty-four different colors, the combinations of lettering ideas you can use them for are only limited by your imagination. The Opaque Writers are acid-free, archival quality, lightfast, waterproof, fade-proof, and non-bleeding. I have used these pens in the past to embellish paper piecings and die-cuts because of their unique ability to maintain a solid color on any color paper. A small white mark in the center of an other-wise lifeless, black circle becomes a sparkle in an eye on your paper pieced project. The technique illustrated here is simple, but can be used to create a host of different looks for your pages.
The first step is to draw or trace your letters onto your page in pencil.
Next, trace over the letters using the 1mm fine-tip Opaque Writer in your color choice.
Then, using the 6mm chisel tip version of that same color, trace over just one section of the letters. In the example, I have traced the first line of each straight letter, and the left edge of the curved letters.
Complete your lettering, by decorating the letters in your choice of styles to match the theme of the page. I have shown six examples here to help get your creative juices flowing. The A is decorated with a yellow pen in a plaid pattern. The B has red hearts added to it. The C is an example of how simple dots and dashes can be used to decorate your lettering. For the D, I first used a green writer to draw "vines" around the primary section of the letter. Then, I added flowers to the vine by drawing a large dot in one color pen and adding a small dot of a contrasting color to its center. The E has small stars and dots embellishing it, which would make terrific snowflakes on a winter page. And, lastly, the F has been outlined and dotted in bronze.
As you can see, these pens allow you to add layer after layer of opaque color to embellish your letters. You can decide just how intricate the lettering should be for your layout. Using just one embellished capital letter at the beginning of your title or journaling would be enough for some pages.
Have Fun and Happy Scrappin'!
Have you tried out the Opaque Writers? What is your favorite use for them? Come discuss it with us on the forum!
